History of the Joseph Ligon Chapter
The Joseph Ligon Chapter has had
an illustrious past. It was founded in Paris, Texas, February 20, 1914.
The Chapter received its Charter July 7, 1914, and was given the number
1177. The founder, Mrs. Miriam Fort Gill, chose the name Joseph Ligon,
her ancestor, because both Captain Joseph Ligon, Sr. and Lieut. Joseph
Ligon, Jr., father and son, served together in the troop of Virginia Militia
which the father organized in Halifax County, Virginia. Captain Ligon,
Sr. was a lieutenant of a company of militia under a commission from King
George but resigned and organized the militia to fight against the king.
He was wounded in the Battle of Guilford Courthouse, N. C., March 15,
1781.
Mrs. Gill organized the Chapter
with seventeen original members. The last Charter Member, Marie Baldwin
Webb, died at the age of 102 in October, 1986.
The State and National Society
have been served by our past members. Mrs. James T. Rountree served as
State Regent, 1928-31, and as Vice-President General. Mrs. Marie B. Webb
served as State Corresponding Secretary under Mrs. Rountree, 1928-31.
Paris, Texas was the location
for the 24th Annual Texas State DAR Conference, November 7-8, 1923. The
meeting was held at the Holy Cross Episcopal Church. The out-of-town members
spent the night at the Gibraltar Hotel, across the park.
In May of 1930, the Joseph Ligon
Chapter placed an Official DAR Real Daughter Marker on the grave of Sarah
Elliott Bramlett in Evergreen Cemetery (born February 21, 1796 - died
September 2, 1875). Mrs. Bramlett's father was Thomas Elliott. Later the
Chapter honored Mrs. Elizabeth Charlotte Applewhite Robertson, a Real
Daughter, and her daughter, Mrs. Mary Lou Robertson Roach.
The gray granite marker in the
little park on Bonham Street was placed by the Joseph Ligon Chapter to
mark the "National Highway of the Republic of Texas 1844." The marker
was dedicated June 14, 1922.
Through the years the Chapter
has received and given many other awards too numerous to mention. The
Chapter is one of few organizations in Paris, Texas, that has met on a
regular basis for eighty years. Meetings are held the third Saturday of
each month from September to May, except for December.
From a history compiled by Margaret
M. Bauer, Regent, 1988-1990
